Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Multiple Trauma”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources

A university-staffed, private hospital-based air transport service. The initial two-year experience.

During the first two years of a cooperative effort between the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Hermann Hospital, Houston, a program designed to extend the emergency center to the patient by helicopter treated and moved 1,702 patients. A physician and flight nurse attended patients on each mission. Of all flights, 68.3% were because of major multiple trauma and 28.8% were to the scene of an accident. The magnitude of these injuries was reflected by a mortality of 11% at the scene of the accident and 7% in the emergency room of those transported. The primary purpose of the program is to minimize the time between the catastrophic event and the institution of appropriate medical therapy. Our experience with this program of early stabilization and rapid transport has led to the following observations: (1) single-organ injury is virtually nonexistent in the patient with multiple trauma; (2) clotting abnormalities, even disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, are seen regularly in patients with apparently isolated head injuries; and (3) patients with apparently isolated head injuries often have serious pulmonary function abnormalities.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Anesthesia for victims of nerve agents undergoing surgery: establishment of a management protocol.

Awareness of the effects of nerve agents still being stocked around the world has led to the establishment of protocols for rapid evacuation and decontamination of large civilian areas. Perioperative care protocol and procedures for the administration of anesthesia in lifesaving surgical intervention for combined multiple trauma and intoxicated casualties have not been established. There are also no guidelines for anesthetizing those casualties who had already been medicated on site. The only exception to anecdotal reports and isolated communications on these issues is the organophosphate poisoning database of substances which act similarly to the nerve agents or their antagonists. We gathered the few reports existing on the subjects in the literature and extrapolated the knowledge of the nature and action of various anesthetic drugs. We applied it to biological and physiological conditions that exist in combined chemical and multiple trauma casualties and consolidated the data into two charts that may serve as guidelines for preventing the avoidable hazardous outcomes.

Anesthetics↗

Primary open reduction and internal fixation of open fractures.

Our experience with primary open reduction with rigid internal fixation of 50 open fractures is presented. Twenty-seven patients had associated major multiple trauma. Twenty fractures were articular and 26 involved 3rd-degree wounds. The infection rate of 4%. A system of staged sequential debridement and wound management is presented. The authors believe this system has contributed to the low infection rate. No secondary amputations occurred. Eighty-two per cent of the patients had good functional results using Charnley's criteria. Fatal post-traumatic cardiopulmonary failure did not occur. The authors feel that early definitive fracture care employing rigid fixation which avoids casts, and allows improved wound management and early mobilization of the multiple-trauma patient, has decreased the cardiopulmonary and metabolic consequences commonly associated with polytrauma patient care.

Adolescent↗

Unstable hangman's fractures.

One hundred and seventy consecutive multiple trauma victims were studied postmortem by radiography and direct inspection at autopsy for the presence of cervical spine injuries. Of the total 38 fractures and/or dislocations, eight had bilateral pedicle fractures of the axis. Only atlanto-occipital dislocations were more frequently encountered. Dissection of six of the eight spines with hangman's fractures showed variable osseous and ligamentous injuries. In only two of the eight cases were significant ligamentous structures sufficiently intact to prevent gross displacement on flexion and extension. In three of the specimens complete laceration of the upper cervical spinal cord was found. Unstable hangman's fractures are a common fatal cervical spine injury in multiple trauma victims.

Adult↗

Post-traumatic pulmonary contusion in children.

We reviewed 35 consecutive cases of post-traumatic pulmonary contusion in children that occurred during a 12-year period. Of these, 19 children (54%) were more than 5 years old, 30 (86%) were involved in motor vehicle accidents, and 29 (83%) had multiple trauma. External thoracic wall contusion, fracture of the bony thorax, tachypnea, hemoptysis, and abnormal breath sounds were frequently absent on presentation. Associated intrathoracic lesions of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and hemothorax occurred in 20 children (57%) and were particularly prevalent in those with fracture of the bony thorax (93%); the radiographic appearance of these lesions was delayed up to 48 hours in 40% of cases. In 34 children (97%), radiographic evidence of pulmonary contusion was present on admission and did not progress radiographically during hospitalization. No child experienced respiratory deterioration subsequent to presentation or required mechanical ventilation for respiratory insufficiency. Pulmonary contusion in children is usually a consequence of significant-impact injury associated with multiple trauma and has a good prognosis. Despite a paucity of abnormal physical findings, children who sustain high-impact trauma should receive radiographic evaluation of the chest to assess for possible intrathoracic injury. When pulmonary contusion is accompanied by fracture of the bony thorax, serial radiographic evaluation of the chest should be performed during the initial 48 hours of hospitalization.

Adolescent↗

Compartment syndrome in open tibial fractures.

A retrospective review of the cases of 180 patients who had 198 acute open fractures of the tibial shaft and were admitted to a multiple-trauma referral center over a three-year period revealed an incidence of accompanying compartment syndrome of 9.1 per cent (eighteen fractures in sixteen patients). Each of the eighteen compartment syndromes was documented by measurements of intracompartmental pressure that were obtained by the saline-injection technique, and all were treated by four-compartment fasciotomy. The incidence of compartment syndrome was found to be directly proportional to the degree of injury to soft tissue and bone; this complication occurred most often in association with a comminuted, grade-III open injury to a pedestrian. The physician must maintain a high index of suspicion to detect a compartment syndrome in the patient who has multiple trauma, as its clinical signs and symptoms may be masked by a closed injury of the head or the need for ventilatory support or prolonged anesthesia for other surgical procedures.

Accidents, Traffic↗

[Pediatric brain death and donation in Asturias].

BACKGROUND: Brain death is the irreversible cessation of intracranial neurologic function and is considered as the person's death. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of pediatric donors in the Hospital Central de Asturias from October 1995 to October 2002. METHODS: We performed a retrospective and descriptive study of the dead children who were potential donors in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). RESULTS: Of 43 dead children, 15 (34.9 %) were diagnosed with brain death. In four patients (family refusal in one, sepsis in two and brain tumor in one) there was no donation. In all patients, the diagnosis of brain death was based on clinical examination and electroencephalogram. Doppler ultrasonography and technetium-99m hexamethylpropyleneamineoxamine (Tc-99-HMPAO) scanning was also performed in three and nine patients respectively. The mean age of the donors was 8.1 years (range: 13 months-15 years). The male/female ratio was 3/1. The cause of death was multiple trauma in six children, brain hemorrhage in three, cardiac arrhythmias in three, lightning strike in one, diabetic ketoacidosis in one, septic shock in one and hypovolemic shock in one. The median interval between admission and brain death was 1.4 days (range: 3 hours-12 days). The time of organ support between brain death and donation was 8.4 hours (range: 6-13 hours). The most frequent complications after brain death were central diabetes insipidus in 90.9 % of the patients, hyperglycemia in 54.5 % and hypokalemia in 45.4 %. During support 72.7 % of the patients required inotropic aid. CONCLUSIONS: In our PICU more than one-third of the dead children suffered brain death, and most became donors. The most frequent cause of brain death was multiple trauma. Coordination with the transplant team and the training of medical staff are important to achieve a high percentage of donations.

Adolescent↗

The incidence of myoglobinuria in patients with pneumatic trousers.

The possible association between the use of pneumatic trousers and myoglobinuria was investigated. One hundred and four victims of multiple trauma were entered into a study over a three-month period. Patients who suffered serious injuries to two or more organ systems qualified for entrance into the study. Patients who arrived at the emergency department with inflated pneumatic trousers served as the test population (n = 50), and patients who did not have pneumatic trousers served as the controls (n = 54). Urine specimens were obtained from all patients just before the completion of their treatment in the emergency department. No patients in the control group had myoglobinuria 0%), and only one patient in the test group had myoglobinuria 2%). The results were not statistically significant. Myoglobinuria is not an acute complication of the use of pneumatic trousers. The presence of pneumatic trousers on a multiple-trauma patient is not an indication for routine screening for myoglobinuria in the emergency department.

Adult↗

Transection of the inferior vena cava from blunt thoracic trauma: case reports.

Blunt thoracic trauma is a frequent cause of death in multiple trauma victims. Myocardial rupture may occur in up to 65% of patients who die with thoracic injuries. Two cases are presented with intrapericardial transection of the inferior vena cava, pericardial rupture, and myocardial rupture from blunt thoracic trauma. Both patients died.

Adult↗

[Traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis: arguments in favor of surgical management after analysis of 8 patients].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to assess the efficacy of primary surgical stabilization in the management of traumatic C2 spondylolisthesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight patients including 5 men and 3 women (mean age, 44 years) were treated surgically for traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis. Three patients presented permanent neurological deficit. The indication for operative treatment included fracture instability and association with either neurological deficit or multiple trauma. External immobilization was attempted and failed in two patients. In all cases the procedure was performed by the anterior route and consisted of surgical fixation with C2/C3 discectomy, intersomatic graft placement, and bone fusion. RESULTS: Using the Effendi and Levine classification, fractures were classified as type I in 2 cases, type II in 3, type IIa in 2, and type III in 1. The two patients with severe tetraparesis presented spinal cord contusion at the C2/C3 disk level. Postoperative radiography demonstrated C2/C3 fusion in all patients. No surgical complications were observed. The average hospital stay was 4.5 days. CONCLUSION: Surgical stabilization by C2-C3 fusion via the anterior route is effective for management of all types of traumatic C2 spondylolisthesis. It achieves immediate stability. We recommend its use as a primary intervention not only for unstable lesions but also for lesions associated with neurological deficits or multiple trauma. A major benefit is to facilitate nursing care and patient rehabilitation.

Adult↗

Biochemical changes after trauma and skeletal surgery of the lower extremity: quantification of the operative burden.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify changes in variables of inflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis in blunt trauma patients with lower extremity fractures who underwent different types of surgical procedures. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort study. SETTING: Level I university trauma center. PATIENTS: We allocated 83 blunt trauma patients in stable condition and 22 patients eligible for elective hip replacement to four treatment groups. INTERVENTIONS: In 34 multiply traumatized patients with femoral fracture (group PTFF) and in 28 patients with an isolated femoral fracture (group IFF), primary unreamed intramedullary nailing for stabilization of the femoral shaft fracture was performed. In 22 patients, an elective uncemented total hip arthroplasty (group THA) was inserted for osteoarthritis, and in 21 control patients, an isolated ankle fracture (group AF) was acutely stabilized. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: From serially sampled central venous blood, the perioperative concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, of prothrombin fragments 1 + 2, and of D-dimer cross-linked fibrin degradation products were evaluated. Intramedullary instrumentation for an isolated femur fracture caused a significant perioperative increase in the concentrations of IL-6 (preoperative IL-6, 52 +/- 12 pg/mL; IL-6 30 mins postinsertion, 78 +/- 14 pg/mL; p = .02). This increase was comparable with group THA (preoperative IL-6, 46 +/- 16 pg/mL; IL-6 30 mins postinsertion, 67 +/- 11 pg/mL; p = .03). A positive correlation occurred between both groups (r = .83, p < .0004). Multiple trauma patients demonstrated significantly (p = .0002) higher IL-6 concentrations than all other groups throughout the study period and showed a significant increase after femoral nailing (preoperative IL-6, 570 +/- 21 pg/mL; IL-6 30 mins postinsertion, 690 +/- 24 pg/mL; p = .003), whereas no perioperative change was seen in group AF. The highest IL-6 increases were associated with a longer ventilation time (group PTFF) and a longer period of positive fluid balances (groups PTFF, IFF, THA). The coagulatory variables demonstrated similar perioperative increases in groups IFF and THA, but not in groups PTFF and AF. The IL-6 concentrations and the prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 concentrations correlated between groups THA and IFF at 30 mins and at 1 hr after surgery (r2 = .64, p < .02). In all patients the clinical variables were stable perioperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Major surgery of the lower extremity causes changes to the inflammatory, fibrinolytic, and coagulatory cascades in patients with stable cardiopulmonary function. The inflammatory response induced by femoral nailing is biochemically comparable to that induced by uncemented total hip arthroplasty. In multiple trauma patients, increases, which occurred in addition to those induced by the initial trauma, were measured. Definitive primary femoral stabilization by intramedullary nailing imposes an additional burden to the patient with blunt trauma. A careful preoperative investigation is required to evaluate whether primary definitive stabilization can be performed safely.

Adult↗

Pulmonary and cardiovascular consequences of immediate fixation or conservative management of long-bone fractures.

We randomly assigned patients with multiple trauma who had tibial or femoral fractures to one of two groups--one group received immediate fixation of all fractures, and the second group received conservative orthopedic management, consisting of traction or plaster casts. Studies were conducted twice each day for four days following injury. Mean cardiac index was 1.3 L/min/m2 higher and mean shunt was 5.2% lower in the immediate fixation group compared with the group receiving conservative treatment. Other pulmonary and systemic hemodynamic variables did not differ between the groups. The incidence of fat macroglobules in blood aspirated from the pulmonary capillaries was higher when compared with that in pulmonary arterial blood but was not significantly different between the two treatment groups. Platelet count was significantly lower and fibrinogen concentration was significantly higher in the group receiving immediate fixation. We found no diagnostic significance of the incidence of fat macroglobules in samples of blood aspirated from the pulmonary circulation. We conclude that patients receiving immediate fixation had less pulmonary dysfunction following multiple trauma and long-bone fractures.

Adolescent↗

[Management of severe burns during the 1st 72 hours].

Early and efficient management of severely burned patients facilitates outcome improvement. Pre-hospital care includes fluid loading with 2 mL.kg-1/% burn over the first six hours, sedation and analgesia, prevention of hypothermia and ventilatory support for either critically burned patients or facial, cervical or pulmonary burn injury. The transient stay in a general hospital before transfer to a burn centre allows extension of initial care, the critical investigation for associated injuries (intoxication, multiple trauma) and to perform initial local treatment with sterile coverage or vaseline gauze after a revised assessment of the burned skin area, and possibly escharotomies. The main aim of care in the burn centre is to control hypovolaemia and to obtain maximal tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery to burned tissues, as well as to healthy organs. To manage the burn shock (initially hypovolemic and later on hyperdynamic) catecholamines are often indicated when appropriate fluid loading remains insufficient. Mechanical ventilation is indicated in case of either a deep extensive burn over 60% of total body surface area, or facial and cervical burns or severe pulmonary burn injury from smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide intoxication, tracheobronchial thermal injury and blast injury. Because of the severity of burn-related pain, and the stimulus linked to intensive care, continuous sedation is usually required. Early surgical treatment such as escharotomies, excision and grafting, which cause significant pain as well as blood loss, and hydrotherapy, often require general anaesthesia. Burn injury can modify the volume of distribution and the pharmacokinetics of anaesthetic agents. Finally, chemical or electrical burn, radiation, associated CO intoxication or multiple trauma, as well as burn injury in infants, raise specific problems. With improvement in early intensive care, the survival rate of the most severely burned patients is obviously improving. New techniques in skin substitution will probably further improve the final outcome.

Adolescent↗

Staged management and outcome of combined pelvic and liver trauma. An international experience of the deadly duo.

Pelvic fracture associated with liver trauma is not an uncommon injury combination in multiple trauma and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of this specific patient group, to describe the diagnostic and treatment protocols and finally to analyse risk factors associated with mortality. Data were collected over a 6-year period, ending in 2001. The pelvic injury was graded according to the Tile classification system and the hepatic injury was scored using the organ injury scale (OIS). Treatment protocol, associated injuries, complications, length of ICU/Hospital stay and mortality were recorded and analysed. A total of 140 patients (40% female) with a mean age of 35.1+/-15.9 years and a median ISS of 41 were included in this study. The overall mortality rate was 40.7%. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed age, initial blood pressure, transfusion requirement as well as the severity of head, chest, spleen and liver injury as independent parameters predicting reduced survival rates. This deadly duo of injuries presents a challenge to the trauma surgeon. Rapid assessment and treatment is required to prevent death by haemorrhage. The presence of concomitant injuries renders the patient very sensitive to ongoing or additional physiological disturbance. The principles of 'damage control surgery' must be applied to avoid complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).

Adolescent↗

[Microbiological care of ventilated intensive care patients. Feasibility of diagnosis and therapy of pulmonary infection].

Pulmonary infections are the most life-threatening infections in mechanically ventilated patients. Methods to avoid these infections by prophylactic systemic or local administration of antibiotics may promote resistance and selection of distinct groups of pathogens. In mechanically ventilated patients we studied the impact of early diagnosis and specific therapy on the prevention of pulmonary infections. Due to the very short interval between colonization and infection, daily microscopic and microbiologic examinations of tracheobronchial secretions proved to be essential for early and successful therapy and even prevention of pulmonary infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The present study comprised a total of 190 patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit who required mechanical ventilation for a period of at least 48 h: 56 were admitted for multiple trauma; 38 had peritonitis; and the remainder had postoperative complications such as renal failure, cardiac problems, septicemia or pneumonia. Multitraumatized patients (16.5 days) and those with peritonitis (13.8 days) needed the most extensive ventilatory support. After admission antibiotic therapy was started with a second-generation cephalosporin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Further antibiotic treatment was directed strictly against the isolated pathogens. Tracheobronchial secretions were monitored daily by microscopy and cultures. Microscopic evaluation was essential to discriminate between colonization and inflammation, and often indicated the infective agent. If infections were suspected provisional antibiograms were performed on the material. This procedure allowed a specific antibiotic treatment to be initiated 8-12 h later. In patients with pulmonary infections, additional bronchoscopic material was taken in order to correlate these findings with those gained from the tracheobronchial secretions. RESULTS. In 85% of cases massive colonization of the trachea with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterobacteria, Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae resulted in pulmonary infections 24-48 h later. The reduced virulence of Pseudomonas species (non-aeruginosa) and Acinetobacter species is reflected by an infection rate of 50% and an extended period of time to establish an infection (2-4 days). Only 30% of patients highly contaminated with Candida developed pulmonary infections after 3-6 days. A fair correlation (86%) was found between pathogens isolated in tracheobronchial secretions and bronchoscopic material. In the population studied, 68 patients (35.7%) developed pulmonary infections, 32 of them pneumonia (16.8%), and the others purulent tracheobronchitis with fever. Both groups were treated with antibiotics. Patients with multiple trauma, often accompanied by lung contusion, were most frequently affected. In 59 patients (87%) pulmonary infections were treated successfully by specific antibiotic therapy; 9 patients died so rapidly, that the pulmonary complication could not account for the fatal outcome. In 38 patients with massive contamination of the tracheobronchial system by enterobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staph. aureus, progression from colonization to infection was prevented by early administration of specific therapy. CONCLUSIONS. Because pulmonary infections in most cases arise very soon after pathogens have gained access to the tracheobronchial system daily monitoring of tracheobronchial secretions is required for early initiation of specific therapy.

Adolescent↗

Blunt thoracic trauma in multiple injury.

In a series of 102 patients with multiple injury including a blunt lesion of the chest treated in 1970 through 1973 the mortality rate could be reduced to 17 per cent. This compares favourably with a mortality of about 34 per cent in a similar group of patients treated in the same hospital during 1965 through 1969. The improvement is partly due to increasing experience of the surgical and anaesthesiological teams and especially to a better appreciation of the importance of ventilatory pulmonary insufficiency and acute respiratory distress syndrome which are frequent in these patients. Early respiratory assistance is indicated in all cases with an instability of the chest wall. The imminence of a respiratory distress syndrome may announce itself by the classical symptoms of an increased breathing rate with hypocarbia before hypoxia becomes manifest. In the majority of patients with a thoracic lesion however the syndrome starts with a combination of increasing dyspnoea and normo- or even hypercarbia. This should be recognized and promptly treated by artificial respiration before acidosis and hypoxia with cardiac arrest can occur.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Reduction of post-traumatic intracranial hypertension by hypertonic/hyperoncotic saline/dextran and hypertonic mannitol.

Cerebral injury is seen in one of three patients with multiple traumas; thus efficient shock treatment is a most important measure against the development of secondary brain damage. Small-volume resuscitation in severe hemorrhagic shock by hypertonic/hyperoncotic saline/dextran has been shown to instantaneously normalize cardiac output and to raise systemic blood pressure. In this study, the fluid regimen was compared with hypertonic mannitol to investigate their therapeutic efficacy in intracranial hypertension. The experiments were performed in rabbits subjected to a focal lesion of the brain to induce acute, vasogenic brain edema. The resulting intracranial hypertension was enhanced in a standard manner by inflation of an epidural balloon until an intracranial pressure (ICP) of 17 mm Hg was obtained. Intravenous administration of either 7.2% saline/10% dextran-60 or of 20% mannitol rapidly decreased the elevated ICP. After the first injection, ICP lowering was maintained longer by the mannitol than by the hypertonic saline/dextran, whereas no differences in duration of ICP lowering were found when the infusions of these solutions were repeated. The systemic blood pressure increased after injection of the saline/dextran solution, but it tended to decrease after injection of the mannitol. Transient increases in plasma osmolality, colloid-osmotic pressure, and plasma-Na+ were more pronounced after administration of the saline/dextran solution than after the administration of the mannitol. No difference in the tissue water content between the traumatized and contralateral hemisphere was observed in the animals receiving mannitol; however, after saline/dextran infusion, the water content was somewhat increased in the exposed hemisphere but decreased in the nonexposed, contralateral hemisphere (decreased to a point even below the corresponding level of animals who received the mannitol). The increase of the cerebral water content of the traumatized hemisphere was associated with a respective increase of the cerebral Na+ content and a (nonsignificant) decrease of the K+ content. The present findings demonstrate that the hypertonic/hyperoncotic saline/dextran was as efficient as the mannitol in reducing ICP that had been increased by a cerebral lesion and a space-occupying mass; the underlying mechanisms responsible for the reduction might differ. Because of the powerful hemodynamic properties of the saline/dextran in circulatory shock, administration of the solution in patients with multiple traumas and head injury might be particularly advantageous for the prevention of secondary ischemic brain damage.

Animals↗

Genome-wide monocytic mRNA expression in polytrauma patients for identification of clinical outcome.

Immune activation in multiple trauma is closely linked to the development of multiple organ dysfunction and failure, and consequently, has a profound influence on patient outcome. Although peripheral blood monocytes play a critical role in this immune response, the biological significance of changes in genome-wide expression immediately after traumatic injury have not been explored previously. Thirteen patients presenting with multiple blunt trauma were studied. Peripheral blood monocytes were obtained within 90 min and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after trauma. Apparent genome-wide expression was determined with Affymetrix U133A microarrays. Supervised analysis identified 698 probe sets that were differentially expressed in the 13 trauma subjects (P < 0.001) over the 72-h study period. An additional 763 probe sets were differentially expressed in patients who died (n = 3) compared with those who survived (n = 10). The ability of these probe sets to function as a classifier of survival was significantly demonstrated with six prediction models. Using pathway analysis, a network of proinflammatory genes and intracellular signaling pathways leading to c-JUN activation were consistently overexpressed in patients who died. Genome-wide mRNA expression patterns in circulating peripheral blood monocytes from multiple-injured patients can discriminate clinical outcome. The pattern of gene expression in patients who died suggests that in these individuals, there is a reprioritization of gene expression consistent with an early activation of selected genes involved in the initiation and propagation of a proinflammatory response.

Adult↗